We dive into the history and mission of Mersin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in Turkey, through the following interview with its President, Mr. Hakan Sefa Çakir, who is the President of the ICT Commission of ASCAME. Established in 1886, the Mersin CCI is one of the oldest chambers of commerce in Turkey. With 35,000 members, this institution is committed to supporting and promoting the interests of local businesses and companies in Mersin. Its main mission is to foster economic development, facilitate trade, and provide a platform for businesses to collaborate and share experiences. As Mr. Çakir explains in the interview, the Mersin CCI has also contributed to the regional and national economic growth. Mersin has the biggest port of Turkey and the 7th biggest port in the Mediterranean. Industry, agriculture, logistics and tourism are the key economic sectors. In his opinion, “Mersin is a city of value-added production, city of logistics, a city of foreign trade and a city of harmony with its different cultures”. Within this interview, Mr. Çakir also reflects on the key role of ASCAME in facing current challenges in the Mediterranean region.
What are the main services offered by the Mersin CCI to local businesses?
Our chamber of commerce focuses on value-added projects and down-to-earth projects addressed to our members. Education and training are the priority. We count on an SME Academy which organizes training and education for our members. We also have an Education and Development Foundation, which deals with vocational education that our sectors need. Moreover, “Atölye 1886” is a makerspace that includes design studio, 3D scanners and printers, robotic arms and reverse engineering technologies. All members, start-ups and university students can use this space mostly free of charge. In addition, we have a Trade Information and Intelligence Center, where our members can get information about their potential market, rivals and suppliers. We can say that Mersin CCI is the only chamber that trains other chambers.
How do you face global challenges that affect all the Mediterranean countries?
Beyond our obligatory services that we give to our members, our institution focuses on challenging matters and projects, such as climate chance adaptation projects, green and digital transformation of our sectors, new patterns in agriculture, blue economy and new generation vocational education, productivity of our sectors and clustering. Mersin CCI is the first CCI in Turkey that realized the regional innovation strategy. That’s why we are determined to continue our leadership role in innovation in Turkey and our region.
What are the main needs, queries, requests that your members make to you?
Mersin is versatile city in an economic sense. Unlike most cities where a single economic sector predominates, Mersin has a varied key sector. So, each sector’s needs can be different. In this regard, some needs and requests of our members can change depending on the countries and their economies. However, some needs and requests are valid everywhere. For example, the need for qualified human resources. Most of our members, whether manufacturing or services, demand qualified workers. Sometimes, there are some inconsistencies between the graduates and the demands of the sectors. So, As Mersin CCI, we start to cooperate with the national and local representatives of vocational education. We can choose the lessons and curriculum compatible with the industries of Mersin.
The Mersin CCI focuses on challenging matters and projects, such as climate chance adaptation projects, green and digital transformation of our sectors, new patterns in agriculture, blue economy and new generation vocational education, productivity of our sectors and clustering
Why it is a good moment to invest in Turkey?
Turkey, and especially Mersin, has a vibrant economy. Investors want political stability, sufficient infrastructure, qualified human capital, suitable spaces for production or services, less bureaucracy and accessibility. When you check these criteria, you can find all of them in Mersin. Our city has a safe economic harbor. We have no energy and infrastructure problems. We have qualified human resources. We are on the axes of emerging markets. We are a bridge city among Europe, Africa, Middle East, Russia and Asia. Apart from this, Mersin has strong ties with Syria because for last 15 years, our city has hosted 400 thousand Syrian refugees. They learned Turkish and our business culture. I believe that these people will be a bridge between Mersin and Syria.
You participated a few weeks ago in the Fès-Meknès Economic Forum on behalf of the Mersin CCI and the ICT ASCAME’s Commission. Within the forum, you talked about digitalization in the Mediterranean. In your opinion, what are the main challenges that the region faces in this regard?
The subject of the forum was “Digital Transformation in Growing Economies”. As Mersin CCI and ASCAME ICT Commission, we debated on the future of the Mediterranean in a holistic way. Northern America, Europe and Some Asian countries have surpassed the Med-countries in digitalisation. The Mediterranean basin has a long history of science, technology and innovation. However, can we claim today that we are the center of knowledge, technology and innovations? This matter cannot be solved independently. We must cooperate as Med- countries, and ASCAME plays a pivotal role as a strong connector on the Mediterranean basin. We must see the power of ASCAME. All the Mediterranean countries should work and produce projects in cooperation. A new wave is coming, and nobody knows its effects. It is said that climate change will mostly affect the Mediterranean region. So, the only solution to these challenges is to talk to each other, to meet frequently, and to cooperate on all matters. In this sense, chambers and business communities, universities, R&D institutions, municipalities, NGOs, and even our youths, must work together. As Med-countries and cities, we cannot be rivals, but we must be partners.
You said that Industry 4.0 It is a very broad term that has to do with Trade 4.0, Tourism 4.0, Logistics 4.0…. Could you please explain this idea?
Industry 4.0 should not be limited to industry itself. Industry 4.0 involves digital integration and, consequently, innovation and innovative perspectives. Digitalisation means productivity. So, all sectors need productivity and speed and, for sure, innovation and innovative approaches. That’s why we must integrate ICT into all sectors for effective innovations, added value and productivity. Even politics needs this new perspective to understand the new age. Politics 4.O is vital to understand this new world and to make correct policies. We see that we cannot find new and effective solutions by using old mentalities.
Industry 4.0 should not be limited to industry itself. Industry 4.0 involves digital integration and innovative perspectives. We must integrate ICT into all sectors for effective innovations, added value and productivity
What is the key to integrating innovation in all the Mediterranean sectors?
Each Mediterranean country has its own innovation story. However, innovation and digitalisation require working together. Different minds and different ways of thinking are needed to face this common challenge. We must work together and share knowledge and best practices. Nowadays, there is a popular word among us: It is “magnet”. Everybody wants to be a magnet. Each city around the Mediterranean wants to be magnet in view of investment, technology and innovation. Each city around the Mediterranean wants to be magnet for industry, logistics, tourism and agriculture. However, when we look at the Mediterranean countries and cities, we see the same sectors, same production patterns. Tourism, logistics and agriculture have almost become the common sectors of all the Med cities and countries. We have almost the same economies.
In this framework, the question is how can we be a magnet? Who will we attract? Scientifically, we know that the same poles of magnets do not attract each other. On the contrary, they repel each other. As the Mediterranean cities and countries are like the same poles of magnets, we repel each other. Furthermore, we are becoming rivals in other markets. For this reason, I consider that it is necessary to plan the Mediterranean in a holistic way and create “a magnet of the Mediterranean”. As Med countries and cities, we must focus on enlarging the cake, not only our slice. In this regard, technology is the most vital area which requires our collaboration and cooperation since it has power to transform all sectors.
What are your next goals as President both ICT ASCAME’s Commission and Mersin CCI?
As President of the ICT ASCAME’s Commission, I would like to contribute to the solidarity with all members of ASCAME on all levels. We are determined to build new bridges among all the members of ASCAME. We must produce ICT projects together. We must stop talking about the golden age of the past of the Mediterranean. Nowadays, the real issue is how we can transform this power into new dimensions and carry on to the future. Mediterranean universities, R&D institutions, techno scopes, innovation centers and start-ups must be in strong cooperation. Students, young people, and women should become the leaders of this new world. They are the key to face urgent challenges such as climate change, global migration, digitalisation and so on… Cooperation is a priority to turn these challenges in opportunities for all the Mediterranean countries. So, we cannot be rivals at all. We must be partners. Through thousands of years Mediterranean history has made us a single family. We are so connected to each other that small events in the far corner of the Mediterranean affect us all. So, we should use this Mediterranean fellowship to restore peace in this geography beyond economic development.